Letters from Father Christmas, Centenary Edition

Letters from Father Christmas, Centenary Edition collects J.R.R. Tolkien’s letters to his children, illustrated with his own full-colour drawings and sketches. Its North Pole tales, reader-friendly trim size and centenary introduction make it suited to festive family reading or a gift for Tolkien fans.

At a glance

Collects letters Tolkien wrote to his children as Father Christmas, with contributions from the Polar Bear and Ilbereth the Elf.
Includes Tolkien’s full-colour illustrations and sketches alongside the stories.
The listing describes a smaller, reader-friendly trim size and an introduction by Baillie Tolkien marking the letters’ centenary.
The publisher presents it as suitable for family read-alouds and a festive gift.

Price

$36.50Save 33%

Reference price: ~~$54.42~~

Price checked: 13 Nov 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

Pairs the imaginative letters with Tolkien’s own coloured artwork, so the visual material is part of the reading experience.
The episodic North Pole adventures offer material for seasonal family reading rather than a single continuous novel.
Centenary introduction adds context to the collection.

Technical specifications

7 specifications

Book details
Publisher	William Morrow & Company
Publication date	27 October 2020
Language	English
Print length	208 pages
ISBN-13	978-0358389880

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.07 kg
Dimensions	22.07 x 2.36 x 27.94 cm

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Tolkien fans who want to read his illustrated Father Christmas letters to his children.
Families looking for whimsical seasonal stories to share aloud.
Readers choosing a Christmas gift that combines letters, stories and original illustrations.

Letters from Father Christmas, Centenary Edition · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 5,281 ratings

5 stars80%80%
4 stars13%13%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars1%1%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback describes the book as delightful and beautifully written, highlighting its whimsical stories and full-colour illustrations. Some customers also value it as a Christmas gift or Tolkien collection addition. That reported response aligns with the listing’s described combination of letters and artwork, though the feedback does not establish how every reader will respond.

Positive themes

Customers describe the stories as whimsical and the writing as appealing.
Customers praise the full-colour illustrations and mention the book as a Christmas gift or Tolkien collection addition.

Frequently asked questions

What is included in this edition?

The listing describes Tolkien’s letters to his children, his illustrations and sketches, an introduction by Baillie Tolkien, and a personal note by Tolkien.

Is this suitable for reading aloud?

The listing presents it as a family read-aloud choice, with whimsical North Pole stories about escaped reindeer, the Polar Bear and goblins.

How long is the book?

The listing gives a print length of 208 pages.